Ignition system.



R. MCCLENATHEN. IGNITION SYSTEM. APPLICATION FILED FEB. 20| I913.

1 ,221,200. Patented Apr. 3, 1917.

www i @wc-Mg# FBJW UNITEDl STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ROBERT MCCLENATHEN, OE AKRON, OHIO, AssIGNoR, EYMEsNE ASSIGNMENTS, 'roINTERNATIONAL HARVESTER CORPORATION, A CORPORATION or NEW JERSEY.

IGNITION SYSTEM.

Specification of Letters Patent.

PatentedAplu 3, 1917.

Application filed February 20, 1913.- Serial N o. 749,634.

To all whom z't may concern:

Be it known that I, ROBERT MCCLENA- THEN, a citizen of-the UnitedStates, residing at Akron, in the county of Summit and State of Ohio,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Ignition Systems,of which the following is a full, clear,

current from a battery passing through a timer, yibrator and coil;second, by passing l current from the same battery through a differenttimer associatedy with a magneto, thence to the same coil; and third, bypassing current generated in the magneto through the timer associatedwith,said magneto to the same coil. If, for 'any reason, the timer notassociated with the magneto should get out of order, the batterycurrent, if a battery were used, could be passed through the timerassociated withthe magneto, or the magneto current pass through thetimer associated with the magneto and v supplied to the spark producingcoil. If

the battery should get out of order or, for any other reason, it isdesiredv to discontinue.

the use of a battery, current could be supplied'from the magneto throughthemagneto timer to the coil. Again, if the magneto should becomedefective, current from the battery through the timer, not associatedwith the magneto, could be supplied to the spark producing coil. Thissystem is claimed in my co-pen ing application.

It has been found that when battery. current is supplied through thetimer associated with the magneto to the spark producing coil, thebattery wears out in a comparatively short time for the reason that theduration of engagement of the contacts of the magneto timer iscomparatively long when considered with respect tO the duration of therepeated contacts of the vibrator connected in circuit with the timernot associated with the magneto. For this reason, the battery current isnot supplied tothe coil through the magneto timer except in cases ofemergency. Again, it has been found that when the battery current issupplied to thek coil through the magneto timer instead of through .thetimer not associated with the magneto, the platinum contacts of themagneto timer are burned or destroyed more readily, due largely to thefact that the condenser which is connected across the contacts of themagneto timer isI particularly adapted for use with current suppliedfrom the magneto. The magneto when running slow produces alow output incurrent and Voltage, and while operating at high speed leaves theplatinum points in contact so short a time i that the current does nothave time to build up to an excessive value which would injure theplatinum points. With the use of the battery current through the magnetotimer, the current reaches a much higher value,

especially on low lmagneto speeds, than is produced by the magneto atany time, vand consequently, destroys the platinum points. It has beenfound by experience that engine operators, whether operating astationary engine or an engine in an'auto-vehicle, often turn thecontrol switch to a position where battery current is supplied to thecoil through a magneto timer, negligently or carelessly leaving theswitch' in such posltion thereby' wearing out their battery in -ashorter time than is necessary and at the same time rendering the lifeofthe platinum contacts of the magneto timer shorter than should be thecase, when the necessary spark could be produced more efficiently byother switch connections.

It is therefore the object of my invention to incre'ase the etliciencyof my triple ignition system, to render the system fool-proof, and toovercome carelessness and negligence on the part of the operatorusin'gthe ignition system.

This object is accomplished by providing and properly locating aspring-pressed member which normally lies in the path of the operatingkey or handle of the master switch' which controls connections of myignition system. This spring-pressed member is so located that theswitch cannot be thrown into a position whereby battery current issupplied to the spark producing coil through the magneto timer unlesssaid member is first moved in a manner to permit said handle to pass thesame to move the switch into the desired position.

The invention is illustrated on the accom and drawings and will beparticularly set forth in the appended claims.`

Referring first to Fig. .1, which discloses diagrammatically myselective triple -ignition system, a battery 10 is adapte to turf 2onish .current through a switch 11 to the primary coil or coils 12 of atranslating device 29 having a secondary or high voltage coil 13 fromIwhich the spark is produced,

" the current also passing through an independent-timer' 14 in oneposition of the switch 11. ln another position of the switch 11, currentfrom the Jbattery 10 passesv through said switch, translating or spark.p producing coils t12 and 13, and through a timing device 15 which`forms al part of a magneto 16 having'an-armature 16a. In still-Aanother position offthe `f`switch,. current is supplied from saidmagneto 16`through said switch 11, coil 12 and the timer 15 'which isassociated with said magneto. The complete cicuits will be more closelyfollowed later.

-As already stated, current from the battery is only to besuppliedthrough the timer 15 4associated wlth the magneto in cases of emergencyfor the reasons given. It is,

therefore, decidedly advantageous to pre-l .vent the careless throwingof the switch into the pcsition which is to be used only in'cases ofemergency. Tol prevent the operator from throwing the' switch intothe-position i'n which battery current is suppliedo the translatin uVthrough t e timer lassociated with the magneto,l I have provided aspring-pressed member 17 located in a switch cover 18, the

spring-pressedpositiye stop member 17 lying in the path of a key or.vhandle 19 which is adapted to operate the movable contacts f 20,v 21,and 22 of the master switch 11, said I contact being preferably mountedin a disk 23 of /insulating material. Under `normal Poperatingconditions the' spring-pressed positive stop member 17 projects out ofthe coverv 18 tothe extent that it lies in the path of the-switch k'ey19 so that the switch can be turned only into positions marked c. Mag,101i and B-T, as shown in Fig. 2, the hposition of the key v19 whenpointing to BfT, corresponding to a switch position 66 in which thebattery current passes through features oi my inven. tion will beapparent from the description' device or spark-producing coil Laarzen ethe spark producing coil and timer 14, which is independent Vof themagneto, and Mag. position corresponding to a switch positionl in which'current from the magneto passes through the same spark producing coiland the timer 15 associated with the` magneto.

When the switch key 19 points to the po- .sition B-T, which is theusualstarting position, themaster switch '11 is ina positlon permittingcurrentl to flowfrom battery 10 through conductor^24, terminal25,'stationary contact 26, movable contact 21, stationlary contact27),..conductor 28, vprimary or low voltage coil 12 ofthe translatingdevice `29, stationary contact 30, movable contact 20,

stationary contact 31, vibrator. 32, conductor 33, terminal 34,conductor 35, timing member f4, to ground and back to the battery 10.

lW'hen this circuit is completed, current passes through the'low voltagecoil 12 and at the instant that said circuit is broken at the contactsof the vtimer 14 a high voltage current is induced in the secondary coil13 of the translating device 29, and-with the help of the vibrator 32 ashower of sparks is produced .t the spark plugs 36;

When the switch key 19 is in a position pointing to Mag., the masterlswitch 11 is in a, position in which current from the magneto coil v164passes throughrconductor 40,

'terminal 41, switch contacts 42, 21, 27, conductor 28, coil 12,. switchcontacts 30, 20, and 36, terminal 37 conductor 38, timing device 15, toground and back tothe magneto coil 16, the necessary spark beingproduced at the spark plugs 36, in this case, when the circuit iscompleted through timer 15 associated with the magneto. l 4 t As statedabove, the' operator may move the switch into three positions, oli, B-'Tand Mag. freely. But/when moving the switch in one directionfromoiiIposition, he

can move the switch no farther than the Mag.' positlon. for the reasonthat the switch key 19 passes into engagement with the springpr'essedpositive stop member 17. If, in case of emergency,` as vaboveconsidered, the operator desires to 'move the switch 11 into theposition in which current can pass from the battery 10 through the timer15 of the magneto, he must firstv remove or press thespring-pressed stopmember 17 outof the path of the switch key 19 to permit said masterswitch 11 to be moved into such position indicatedby B. Maon the switchbox -18. With the switch in' this position, current passes from battery10 through conductor 24, terminal 25, switch contacts 26,

21, 27, conductor 28, prima Icoil 12, switch" contact 30, 20', 36,termina 37, -conductor 38, through timer 1,5 to ground and back 'tobattery 10, the necessaryxspark being produced at the spark' plugs 36 asabove considered. The switch is'not left in this position longerthan'absolutely necessary, :for

the reason that the battery will wear out in a comparatively short timeand the platinum contact members of the timer 15, associated with the4magneto, will be worn out much more rapidly than if the switch were inanother position. l

When the master switch 11 vis in the position corresponding to theposition B-T of the switch key 19,"the movable contact 22 of the switch11 is in engagement with a stationary Contact so that a circuit may becompleted from battery 10 through conductor 24, terminal 25, switchcontacts 26, 21, 27, conductor 2S, coil 12, stationary contact 30,button switch 4G, contacts 22 and 45, terminal 47, conductor 48, toground and back to the battery, when the circuit is closed at the buttonswitch 46 for producing a spark for starting anengine Without firstcranking the engine. Condensers 48a, 49, and 50 are respectivelyconnected across the contacts of timer 15, timer 14 and vibrator 32, forprotective purposes. y

- It is evident that other means may be provided for preventing theswitch from being moved into the emergency position, except when it isparticularly desired so to do, instead of using the spring-pressedpositive stop member 17 and that ments and modifications may be used,and it is my intention to cover all such arrangements and modificationswhich do not involve a departure from the spirit and scope of myinvention as set forth in the appended claims.

What I claim as new is l. In an ignition system, the combination of asource of current supply, a coil adapted to receive current therefrom, aplurality of timing devices, through one of which current always passeswhen supplied to said coil under normal operating conditions, and meansadapted normally to prevent the passage of current to said coil througha certain one of said timing devices.

2. In an ignition system, the combination of a battery, a magneto, twotiming members, a coil for spark purposes, means for controlling theproduction of a spark through other arrange` the agency of said coilwith said battery and one timing member, or with the same battery andthe other timing member, or with said magneto and the second timingmember,and positive means adapted normally to prevent the production ofva spark through the agency of said battery and a certain one of saidtiming members.

3. In an ignition system, the combination of a battery, a magneto, aplurality of timing members, a coil for spark purposes, means forcontrolling the production of a spark through the agency of said coilwith said battery and one of said timing members, or with the samebattery and another of said timing members, or with said magneto and oneof said timing members, and means adapted normally to prevent theproduction of a spark through the agency of said battery and a certainone of said timing members. l

4. In an ignition system, the combination of, a plurality of sources ofcurrent supply, a plurality of timing members, a coil for sparkpurposes, production of a spark through the agency of said coil with oneof said sources and one of said timing members or with the same sourceand another of said tim-ing members, or -with another of said sourcesand one of said timing members, and means adapted normally to preventthe production of a spark through the agency of one of said sources anda certain one of said timing members.

5. In an ignition system, the combination of a source of current supply,a coil adapted to receive current therefrom, a plurality of timingdevices through which current supplyof said coil may be effected, andpositive means adapted normally to prevent the passage of current tosaid coil through a certain one of said timing devices.

means for controlling the.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature,

in the presence of two witnesses.

ROBERT MCCLENATHEN. Witnesses: i C. R. CONN,

W. L. CARLTON.'

